Means for supplying current to electric vehicles.



No. 737,240. PATBNTED AUG. 25, 1903.

- R. A. E. HUBER. MEANS FOR SUPPLYING CURRENT T0 ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

APPLIOATION FILED HAR. 17, 1902.

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' -R. A. gamma. MEANS FOR SUPPLYING CURRENT T0 ELEGTR'IG VEHICLES.

- APPLICATION FILED MAR. 17, 1902.

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No. 737,240. 4, PATBNTBD AUG. 25, 1903.

R. A. E.. HUBER.

MEANS FOR SUPPLYINC CURRENT T0 ELECTRIC VEHICLES. E.

AIPPLICATIOII FILED MAR. 17, 1902. no MODEL. 4 sums-sums.

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PATENTED AUG. 25, 1903.

R..A. E. HUBER. MEANS FOR SUPPLYING CURRENT T0 ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 17, 1902.

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UNIT D STATES Iatented August 25,

RUDOLF ALFRED EMIL nunns, or ZURICH, SWITZERLAND;

MEANS FOR'SUPPLYING CURRENT TO ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 737,240, dated'August 25, 1903.

Applicatihn filed March N 1902. Serial No. 98,704. (No model.)

To all whom itmay concern:

Be it known that I, RUDOLF ALFRED EMIL HUBER, a citizen of the Republic of Switzerland,residing at Zurich, Switzerland, have invented new and usefulImprovements in or Relating to Means for Supplying Current to Electric Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has for its object to construct an improved apparatus to be applied to elec trically-propelled vehicles or locomotives for collecting current from a fixed line conduc tor, so that the moving mass of the currentcollector is greatly reduced and that the fixed conductor from which current is to be collected may be freely placed within a wide area either above or at side of the vehicle.

A general construction of my invention consists in providing the electrically -propelled vehicle with a bracket adjustable as to height and carrying a horizontal axis parallel to the direction of travel with a sticklike conducting-arm pivoted on the axisto move in a plane perpendicular to the direc-' tion of travel. I 1

In the drawings forming part of this specification Figure 1 is to show diagrammatically.

the current-collector and the area covered'by,

it while moving in a plane perpendicular to the direction of travel. Fig. 2 shows such a collector adjusted to a lower position. Fig. 3 shows a current-collector adjusted to' a higher position. Fig. 4. shows a branch track and conductor which can be passed over with a current-collector, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Fig. 5 shows diagrammatically the-current-collector such as I claim it as being an especially new and useful improvement upon current-collectors generally. Fig. 6 shows how such a current-collector may freely pass without anyadj'ustment as to height of position under any branches of the conductor. Fig. 7 shows a simple but practical form of the apparatus forming theo bject of the present invention. Fig. 8 shows a multiple current-collector. Fig. 9 shows a current-collector with a device to prevent undue vibration of the current-collector. Figs. 10 to 15 show different cross-sections of the currentcollector consistent with the general design:

of a current-collector according to myinventrack B, is provided, for instance, on one of its sides with a bracket 14, which carries in bearings an axis 2. This axis is horizontal and parallel to thedirection of travel; Aconductingrod 1 is attached to this axis or is movable I around it in a plane perpendicular to'the direction of travel. It is an essential feature of this rod 1 that it is not a composite rod-- that is, besides its own pivot on the axis 2 it has-no articulation and no part moving on it and is still capable of adapting itself to various posit'ionsof the fixed conductor relatively to the line of track.

3 shows the fixed-conductor or line-wire,and I II III designate various positions of the current-collector 1 and relative positions of the conductor and line of track. To make a good contact, the wire 3 must not come nearer to the end of the rod 1 than is given by the distance S in Fig. 1, nor must thevwire come nearer to the axis 2 than'is given by the dis'- tance T. I may, therefore, establish two circles the area of which contains all the positions which the conductor 3 may occupy.

II designates a limit position of the current-collector 1 above the vehicle. III may designate an outward limit position of the currentcollector 1. The vertical-line G may designate an outward limit for the position of the conductor 3, and the line F an upward limit for the position of the conductor 3.

Any oneof the two limits individually or both limits together may exist. The limit G may represent, for instance, a wall along which the track is running. The limit-F may represent a bridge crossing the track, and'the two limits F and G together may represent a wall and abridge, respectively, at the same time. In the open country neither of these two limits need exist. From Fig. 1 it becomes obvious that the fixed conductor 3 may al ways be carried on posts, brackets, or suspension-wires in such a way that it keeps at any point of the track within the two limit-lines F and G, on the one part, and within the two circles above mentioned and the limit positions II and III of the current-collector 1, on the other part. If an external force K is applied to the current-collector 1 in a manner as to exert a pressure on the current-collector I constantly in the direction toward the fixed conductor 3 and the current-collector 1 insured in any position of the collector within its two limit positions II and III the collector 1 will therefore willingly follow the fixed conductor whatever position the latter may occupy within the area covered by the collector 1. Undoubtedly the expert in the art has ample means at hand to construct a line of fixed conductor 3 in such a way that it will change its position within the area of contact gradually.

There is another means to keep within the two limits F and G, and that consists in lowering the bracket carrying the current collector. Fig. 2 shows a conductor 3 outside the limit F. On account of the limit F, which may represent a bridge crossing the track, the conductor 3 may be lowered by aheight of the magnitude H instead of being deflected toward the centerof the track, as is shown in Fig. 1 by position II. The current-collector and bracket must therefore be lowered a similar height 11*. In consequence of the altered position of the line-wire the current-collector will have the dotted-line position IV. The bracket is then lowered, so that the collector will come within the limits F G, as indicated'at I*. If at any point of the track for any reason the fixed conductor must be positioned above its usual height, as indicated at 3*, the collector must be lifted a suitable distance, as indicated by H**. The current-collector is first lifted and brought into the position IV** before the point is reached where the fixed conductor begins to ascend from its position 3 toward its higher position 3**. The lifting of the current collector will be necessary at branches, such as shown in Fig. 4. A conductor in its average or usual position is designated by 3 in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, while 3 designates a wire suspended at a greater height, such as shown in Fig. 3. M designates a post on which the conductor 3** commences. The two conductors may form an angle a; but in reality this angle would be lessened by the use of proper suspensions and pull-off wires known to the expert in the art. If now a vehicle should follow the conductor 3, it would keep its collector in its average or usual position. (Shown in dotted lines in Fig. A vehicle, however, which is to follow the branch will lift its current-collector according to Fig. 3 and will thus cause the currentcollector to run against the contact-wire 3 and to follow this wire. This wire may be depressed to its normal or average height above the track lateron and the current-collector moved to its normal position again. If, however, complicated sidings in a railway station or yard have to be dealt with, then the application of this method becomes difficult and the frequent lowering and lifting of the current-collector awkward; but the description of this method will make more clear the essence and importance of the currentcollector which I have invented for general working in the most complicated railwayyards, and to this end I give the rod 1 a shape decidedly convex toward the contact-wire 3, and the lowering and lifting does not prevent the curvature of the rod; but I am now able, as Fig. 5 shows, to make contact with two contact-wires 4 and 5 simultaneously, such wires being suspended from a cross or span wire. I may, therefore, run with this curved current-collector under any contact-wires arranged for work with the well-known contact bow or arch, which, however, is unable to gradually and automatically shift itself over to a contact-line along the side of the track. The collector with sufficient convex curvature toward the contact-wire, so as to insure free passage under the suspension of the contact wire or wires, has as unlimited capacity in running under any number of contact-wires branching off or running parallel or crossing as does an arch, with the additional advantage of being able to follow a single contactwire by gradually drifting over to any other position within the area of contact, preferably to the position marked III in Fig. 1.

To make sure the full understanding of the work of my current-collector shown in Fig. 5, I show the crossing of two tracks with their respective contact-wires in Fig. 6. Ma are posts with brackets supporting the contactwire in a position intermediate to III and II- for instance, in the position marked I in Fig. 5, while Msp are posts with span-wires, from which the contact-wires 4 and 5 are suspended, as shown in Fig. 17. These two wires may or may not be united at that part of the track on which they run parallel, while of course they will be connected to the same source of electricity. If now a vehicle is to follow the straight track of Fig. 6, its current-collector will follow the wire 4, which at the support marked V may occupy the position I of Fig. 5. It will then follow this wire 4 until the suspension marked VI has depressed the collector into a position between I and II of Fig.

5 and further until the suspension marked VII has depressed it into the position II of Fig. 5, in which it will now make contact with both wires 4: and 5. The relative position of the collector and these two wires will remain the same until the suspension marked VIII of Fig. 6 is reached. From there the vehicle causes its collector to follow the wire 5 with the effect that at the suspension marked IX and X the same conditions will prevail as have been described with regard to the suspension marked V and VI, respectively.

Having now clearly described the geometrical features and the general working of my current-collector, and more especially of the rod, I show in Fig. 7 how such a current-collector may be realized in practice, so that all its essential features become operative. 1 is the contact-making rod; 3, the contact-wire.

6 is a clamp or-socket holding the rod 1. 2

is the pivotal axis of the rod parallel with the direction of travel. 8 is a table carrying the supports 9 for the axis 2 and the projection means of the screw-spindle 17 under the action of a miter-gear 18 and a crank 19, moved either by the driver of thevehicle or by power,

automatically or under control.

It is'obvious that instead ofthe screw-spindle, the miter-gear, andcrank other equivalent mechanical elements may be used having for their object the lowering or lifting of the current-collector without changing the parallelism of the axis of pivotation of the rod with the direction of travel.

Fig. 8 shows how a current-collector with a number of rods maybe constructed, 7 being the multiple socket, the other numbers having the same meaning as in Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 shows the use of span-wires 18, securing a point of the rod to the two ends 17 of the pivotal axis for the purpose of preventing undue bending-or vibrating of the rod 1. 1

Figs. 10 to 15 show different cross-sections the rod may be given; Fig. 10, a flat bar; 11, a solid cylinder; 12, a tube; 14., a tube sur rounded by a body possibly of difierent material; 15, a composite form of wood and metal. A convenient cross section is 12, made of steel or hard-brass tube.

Fig. 16 shows how the fixed conductor 3 may be supported, so as to let the current collecting rod 1 freely pass when occupying a position similar to that designated by I in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 5. The conductor 3 is soldered into or clamped on the projecting end of a bracket 20, carried on two insulators 21', with metal caps. 22 is a pole.

Fig. 17 shows how the fixed conductor or more especially how two fixed conductors 4: and 5 (see also Fig. 5) may be suspended by means of wire hangers 23 from a span-wire 24 between insulators 21 on the poles 22, so that the current-collecting rod 1 may freely pass when occupying the corresponding position designated by 11in Figs. 1 and 5. A

wire-support corresponding to the position I of the rod 1 is a pole, an insulator fastened to its upper end, a met'alcap on this insulator, and a suitable clamp on the top to hold the wire.

What I realize with my invention ofa current-collector for electric vehicles is the simplicity of construction and safety of operation.

and more especially with the curved rod 1 of Fig. 5. A straight rod would not be able to fill the purpose fully, as it would not be able to pass under branches with equal freedom and safety from getting tangled.

With the vertical adjustment of the curmay arrange the contact-wire and currentcollector within a wide range in a safe and satisfactory manner where the space available is restricted, as on certain bridges and in tunnels.

Having thus described my said invention, what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is-

1. A current-collector comprising a rod movable in a plane perpendicular to the di-' rection of travel, and means to bodily raise and lower the rod during the movement of the vehicle, substantially as described.

2. A current-collector comprising a curved rod pivoted to move in a plane perpendicular This I accomplish, as I deem to have clearly described, with my current-collector,

. rent-collectorl add to its adaptability that I to the direction of travel, substantially as described.

3. A current-collector comprising a curved rod pivoted to move'in a plane perpendicular to the direction of travel, and means to bodily raise and lower said rod during the move: ment of the vehicle, substantially as described.

4. The combination with a line-wire, of a current-collector comprising a rod convex toward the line-wire, means to yieldingly hold the rod against the wire and means to raise and lower the rod during the movement of the vehicle, substantially as described.

5. The combination with a line-wire, ofa current-collector convex to said wire, a pivot at one end of the rod parallel to the direction of travel, a spring to yieldingl y hold the rod against the wire, a bracket supporting both rod and spring, and means to raise and lower the bracket, substantially as described.

IIO

6. A current-collector, means to pivot it 

